"Steven?" The woman said, her voice carrying genuine surprise.
"Lena," Steven said, equally surprised.
She looked different from the last time he had seen her. That day she had been stepping out of a car in a hurry, visibly stressed, apologising to a stranger she had just hit on a busy road. Tonight she was composed and unhurried, in a dark evening dress that suited her well, her hair down. The elegance of the restaurant's setting suited her in a way that suggested she was entirely comfortable in rooms like this.
Not that it was surprising.
"It's really nice to see you," she said, and the warmth in it was genuine. "You look good. Really good." She paused, and her expression became more personal. "I'm sorry about last time. I've thought about it more than once since then. I'm glad you're okay."
"It's nice to see you too," Steven said. He looked at her for a moment. "And you look stunning in that dress."
Lena smiled at the compliment, a real smile rather than a polite one.
